Carnival kicks off in Brazil, Bolivia

The annual pre-Lent celebration features plenty of colorful costumes and samba dancing

By SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

on February 9, 2013 5:27 PM

Photo: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

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A dancer in costume from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs during a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, late Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

A dancer in costume from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs during a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, late Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

Photo: AP

A dancer in costume from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school... Photo-4166318.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Dancers from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dancers from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

Dancers from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform on a... Photo-4166320.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a... Photo-4166317.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during a... Photo-4166316.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform on a float... Photo-4166315.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school surround their float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school surround their float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school surround their float... Photo-4166313.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs on a float... Photo-4166311.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Carnival season culminates on Tuesday with street revelry and the pageantry of the Rex and Zulu parades.

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Carnival season culminates on Tuesday with street revelry and the pageantry of the Rex and Zulu parades.

Photo: AP

Dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a... Photo-4166310.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Dancers from the Mancha Verde samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo.

Dancers from the Mancha Verde samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo.

Photo: AP

Dancers from the Mancha Verde samba school perform on a float... Photo-4166300.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival... Photo-4166299.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival... Photo-4166291.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs on a float... Photo-4166272.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AP

A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs during a... Photo-4166263.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A couple dressed as clowns participate in the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated 5 million Carnival enthusiasts. less

A couple dressed as clowns participate in the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year ... more

Revelers in costumes meant to resemble a military tank, one pointing a toy gun and another wearing a mask in the likeness of Osama bin Laden, perform during the "Ceu na Terra" block carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. less

Revelers in costumes meant to resemble a military tank, one pointing a toy gun and another wearing a mask in the likeness of Osama bin Laden, perform during the "Ceu na Terra" block carnival parade in Rio de ... more

Dressed up revellers take to underground to attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As local authorities informed, Guinness World Records judges were invited to this celebration. They will confirm if this celebration managed to gather over 2.5 million revellers to break the current record (Galo da Madrugada in Recife). less

Dressed up revellers take to underground to attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As local authorities ... more

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Dressed up revellers take to underground to attend the "Cordao... Photo-4166231.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta"... Photo-4166230.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta"... Photo-4166229.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta"... Photo-4166228.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta"... Photo-4166227.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta" traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on February 09, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Over two million people attend the "Cordao do Bola Preta"... Photo-4166226.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Queen of the Battery Viviane Araujo of the samba school Mancha Verde dances during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Queen of the Battery Viviane Araujo of the samba school Mancha Verde dances during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Queen of the Battery Viviane Araujo of the samba school Mancha... Photo-4166214.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival... Photo-4166213.56529 - Connecticut Post

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View of a float of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

View of a float of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

View of a float of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the... Photo-4166212.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival... Photo-4166211.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Queen of the Battery Viviane Araujo of the samba school Mancha Verde dances during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Queen of the Battery Viviane Araujo of the samba school Mancha Verde dances during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Queen of the Battery Viviane Araujo of the samba school Mancha... Photo-4166210.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival... Photo-4166209.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival... Photo-4166208.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Mancha Verde dance during the carnival... Photo-4166207.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166206.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166205.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166204.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Vai Vai dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Vai Vai dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Vai Vai dance during the carnival... Photo-4166203.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Vai Vai dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Vai Vai dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Vai Vai dance during the carnival... Photo-4166202.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166201.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166200.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166199.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 9, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166198.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166197.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166196.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166195.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academicos do Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166192.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Members of the samba school Academics of Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Members of the samba school Academics of Tatuape dance during the carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome on February 8, 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: LatinContent/Getty Images

Members of the samba school Academics of Tatuape dance during the... Photo-4166191.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A reveller of Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades in Sao Paulo on February 08, 2013.

A reveller of Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades in Sao Paulo on February 08, 2013.

A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

Photo: NELSON ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night... Photo-4166188.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Revellers of Vai-vai samba school perform during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

Revellers of Vai-vai samba school perform during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

Photo: NELSON ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

Revellers of Vai-vai samba school perform during the first night of... Photo-4166189.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

Photo: NELSON ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night... Photo-4166190.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A reveller of X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

A reveller of X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

Photo: NELSON ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

A reveller of X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during the first... Photo-4166193.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A reveller of X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

A reveller of X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013.

Photo: NELSON ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

A reveller of X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during the first... Photo-4166194.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Revellers take part in the 'Cordao do Bola Preta' traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio's six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city's top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens. less

Revellers take part in the 'Cordao do Bola Preta' traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday ... more

Photo: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

Revellers take part in the 'Cordao do Bola Preta'... Photo-4166215.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Revellers take part in the 'Cordao do Bola Preta' traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013.

Revellers take part in the 'Cordao do Bola Preta' traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013.

Photo: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA, AFP/Getty Images

Revellers take part in the 'Cordao do Bola Preta'... Photo-4166218.56529 - Connecticut Post

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A member of La Diablada dance troupe takes part in Carnival of Oruro, in the mining town of Oruro, 240 km south of La Paz, Bolivia, on February 9, 2013. The Carnival of Oruro was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. less

A member of La Diablada dance troupe takes part in Carnival of Oruro, in the mining town of Oruro, 240 km south of La Paz, Bolivia, on February 9, 2013. The Carnival of Oruro was inscribed by UNESCO on the ... more

Photo: AIZAR RALDES, AFP/Getty Images

A member of La Diablada dance troupe takes part in Carnival of... Photo-4166232.56529 - Connecticut Post

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Bolivian Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera (R) and his wife Claudia Fernandez are seen at the Morenada Central Cocanis brotherhood during the Carnival of Oruro, in the mining town of Oruro, 240 km south of La Paz. less

Bolivian Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera (R) and his wife Claudia Fernandez are seen at the Morenada Central Cocanis brotherhood during the Carnival of Oruro, in the mining town of Oruro, 240 km south of La ... more